Tops
Let’s face it, we gave cheap skin to Thiago Seyboth Wild who rubbed shoulders with Daniil Medvedev on the Philippe Chatrier court. The Brazilian literally sickened the Russian, certainly not on a great day, to offer the Parisian public the first big sensation of the 2023 edition after 4h20 of play (7-6, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4). “I watched Daniil a big part of my career. I always dreamed of playing against this type of player, on this type of court. My dream has come true”, savored the 172nd player in the world who will face Guido Pella, Quetin Halys scorer in five rounds.
A year ago, he jostled Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals before ending in tears. On crutches. Broke after a nightmare slip, his right ankle remaining blocked. Forced to retire in the tie-break of the 2nd set after pocketing the 1st set 7-6. Back in Paris, the German (n°22; 17 wins-14 losses in 2023) eliminated South African Lloyd Harris 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-0), 6-1 ). “It’s very nice to be back. After last year, it’s a tournament that I really marked in my calendar, I really wanted to play here, do well. The way the tournament ended for me last year was very disappointing, I enjoy playing in front of a full stadium even more, I had a lot of fun”, underlined the German who will meet the Slovak Alex Molcan (86th).
Ray of sunshine for the French last year by reaching the third round, Diane Parry perfectly launched her fortnight by dismissing in two sets the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina in two sets (6-2, 6-3). The Habs (79th player in the world) with a magnificent one-handed backhand and who released seeded number 2 Krejcikova in 2022 delighted the public at the Simonne-Mathieu court. In the next round, she will face Russian prodigy, 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
Flops
The Parisian tournament waited until Tuesday afternoon to publish a press release concerning the case of Novak Djokovic’s political message and a possible sanction since the Serb violated the charter prohibiting players from passing political or religious messages. A short text … to say nothing or almost with no clear position: “The debates that cross the international news sometimes invite themselves on the sidelines of the tournament, it’s understandable. We regularly discuss this subject within the Grand Slam Board, which brings together the four Grand Slam tournaments. The rules that apply are common to the four tournaments, and the referee, with the Grand Slam supervisors, ensures that they are respected. Messages have been sent to the teams of the players concerned in this regard.
A childish face and a velvet left paw distilling the cushions like sweets had lit up the fall edition of Roland-Garros in 2020. A memory crumpled by a reality deprived of magic. The Toulousain, beaten 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 could not do anything against the Slovak Alex Molcan. A disappointment in a complicated period, he who was fined 144,000 euros (finally reduced to 72,000 euros) for “unsportsmanlike conduct” (a second ball dropped on the court) during his second round match at the Masters 1000 of Madrid against the Croatian Born Coric. “It was a gesture of frustration and not of cheating,” he defended himself. At 22, the 109th in the world, who now trains with Younès El Aynaoui, hopes to regain his momentum: “These are painful times because we always want to play well at Roland-Garros, but I will come back next year. »
In the absence of Rafael Nadal, taking advantage of the world No. 2 spot and a place at the bottom of the table more open than the top dominated by Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev on the way to a title at Rome, which seemed to have broken the lock of its allergy to clay, imposed itself as a very solid outsider. He was unable to dismiss the unknown Thiago Seyboth Wild (23 years old; 172nd in the world). The Brazilian, winner of the 2018 US Open juniors, ejected him from the tournament. Medvedev, the accursed of Roland-Garros recorded a 4th elimination in the 1st round in 7 participations which looks very much like a great missed opportunity. And a confirmed aversion to surface: “I don’t know if people like eating dirt, having dirt in their bags, their shoes, their white socks and having to put them in the trash at the end of the season on earth. Maybe some like it. I’m glad I’m done…”
